Demolition crew to raze Anciso building next week

Downtown Sunnyside streets will be cordoned off all of next week to accommodate a demolition crew that will be knocking down one of the city's landmark structures.

The Anciso building, built at the turn of the 20th Century, will come tumbling down early next week. City officials condemned the property more than two years ago after one of the walls of the brick building began bulging outwardly. The south wall, which fronts a city-owned alleyway, had to be propped up with metal bars.

Former Sunnyside City Councilman Roy Anciso owns the downtown, two-story building. For the past 90-plus years it has housed everything from a real estate office and a cafe to a meat market, furniture store and a doctor's office. Several businesses were forced to relocate when the city condemned the property in 2002.

City Engineer Jim Bridges yesterday afternoon said as of Monday, Jan. 3, the downtown core will be closed to motorists. Specifically, Sixth Street between Edison and Franklin avenues will be roped off to allow a demolition crew to raze the structure. Bridges said the downtown street will be closed at 1 p.m. on Monday.

He anticipates that the street closure will remain in effect until the following Monday, Jan. 10.

"The best case senario, based on how the demolition goes, has us reopening the street on Friday (Jan. 7)," Bridges said.

He added that the merchants in the immediate downtown area will be able to continue doing business all of next week, as foot traffic will be allowed inside the roped off area.